Brogden to give police killers mandatory life sentence

April 8 2002
AAP

Mandatory life sentences for people who murdered police officers would become law under the coalition, NSW Opposition Leader John Brogden pledged today.

Mr Brogden made the pledge after the Carr government yesterday said it would not support a proposal to amend the Crimes Act to make a life term mandatory for those convicted of killing a police officer.

The opposition proposed the amendment after the shooting of Sydney senior constable Glenn McEnallay, who died last Wednesday after six days on life support.

While the law already allows for a maximum life term for the offence, the coalition's proposal removes any discretion for judges to impose a lighter sentence.

Mr Brogden has already called on Premier Bob Carr to support mandatory life sentences. ");document.write("

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But the government said it would not support such a move, saying it was fraught with legal difficulties.

Mr Brogden said the sentences were workable and vowed to have them introduced if the coalition won government next March.

"We believe it is important that we send a message to the police in NSW that they have our full and total support, that we will stand by them in the job they do," he told reporters.

"When they put on that uniform ... they are there to protect us and, in doing so, they put themselves in harm's way.

"We need to send a message to the criminals in NSW that the sentence for murdering a police office in the line of their duty is life."